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…I would be wary of the third son [Sigismund] though father; for he and his intelligent disposition are not crippled by a capricious, vainglorious temperament like Wilhelm nor is he disinterested in the politics and affairs of the Reich like Heinrich or Waldemar. That mind of his, sharp as a sabre.

I remember his most noble mother saying that he has the potential to be the Prussian Napoleon. Harmless albeit grandiose praise for her own kin, so it sounds. But what makes me worried most is that not only do I think he himself believes it; but he wants to be…

- Excerpt of letter by Herbert von Bismarck to his father, Otto von Bismarck; dated 1883.



…The fun-loving and free spirit that both Frederick and Victoria allowed to prosper had created a prince who cared neither for the pageantry of aristocracy or the internal affairs of the infant Germany. Inspired by heroes of folklore and literature; he believed that his true nature would be hammered away under the sights of his native, Prussian tradition. This desire to be free would set the stage for events that nobody, not even the rebellious Waldemar; could have anticipated…

- Excerpt from “The Secret History of the Hohenzollerns” by Paul G. Benjamin, page 25.



Hey everyone, welcome to Die Söhne Friedrichs, an alternate timeline where the two sons of Frederick III of Prussia and his wife Victoria, Sigismund and Waldemar; do not die in their youth. The timeline will be a mixture of faux-academia describing the history, actual narrative and other story-telling devices.

I’m figuring out the finer details of how Sigismund survives his meningitis, as the circumstances of his death happened at the time of the Austro-Prussian War. So, just trying to figure that one as well as more reading and understanding of German history after unification and before the turn of the century, as well as understanding royal families; how the Prussian family would interact with one another and other details.

Rest assured I don’t want this to turn into a Germanwank nor do I want either prince being Garry Stus either, they will need their flaws and their doubts, their failures and their prejudices. In short, I want them to feel real and human.

Sigismund died too young for an accurate understanding of how he may have turned out, but his mother viewed him as more intelligent than the rest of his family. At the moment, in my mind’s eye in any case, Sigismund is sociopathic both as a result of mental issues within noble bloodlines and his upbringing.

Waldemar, on the other hand, I’m basing on his childhood. He seems like the kind of person who could potentially transform into the loveable, free-spirited but irresponsible prince who only got away with shenanigans because of Victoria’s mollycoddling.

How this effects the relationship between Wilhelm and his mother, German history or anything else is up in the air at the moment as the story is still being developed and might take a little time to create.

If you have any suggestions, any pieces of advice or anything to add or would like to see; feel free to add!
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